Crawford Range
The Crawford Range is a 5,787 hectare Canterbury block covering a long, narrow spread of bush and tops country. Elevations run from 526 m on the lower edges up to 1,716 m on the highest ridges, with a median elevation of 1,046 m. A third of the block (33%) sits above the bushline, and 4% climbs into true alpine country above 1,500 m, so this is a mix of bush and tops with most of the country in the working zone of beech faces, scrub and tussock.
The range is dominated by north-facing slopes, with the north-east aspect also strongly represented. Sun-facing faces in this kind of country tend to dry out and hold tussock and scrub, while shaded southern and south-eastern sidles carry more cover and feed — both worth working depending on conditions.
Open Crawford Range on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 18,380 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 526–1,716 m
- Median elevation
- 1,046 m
- Middle 50%
- 790–1,279 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 33%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 4%
- Dominant aspect
- north-facing
526–1,716 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning north-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Hurunui Hut sits inside the Lake Sumner Forest Park edge of the block and provides heating, mattresses, non-flush toilets and tap water (untreated, boil before use). The hut is not bookable, so plan for shared use during peak periods. Loch Katrine Campsite gives a vehicle-accessible base for hunters working in from the lower country.
The block is open to air access and is flagged for WARO, so expect that helicopter operations may be running over the same tops and faces. Stay aware of helicopter movement when you are on glassing points or pushing up onto exposed ridges.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Campsites: Loch Katrine Campsite.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Canterbury permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
Commercial wild-animal recovery (WARO) operates over this area — expect helicopter activity and pressured game.
This block sits within a DOC air-access zone — fly-in hunting and helicopter drop-offs may be permitted.
A DOC hunting permit is required for the Crawford Range. The block sits under the Canterbury permit area as an Ordinary block with hunting permitted year-round, so no ballot or seasonal restriction applies.
1080 & pesticide status
- Pesticide (1080 or similar) has been laid in or near this block — check current dog and carcass restrictions before you hunt.
Get roar & 1080 alerts for the areas you hunt
We'll email you when pesticide operations, ballot dates or access conditions change for Canterbury.
Sign up →